Ultrasound blood flow/tissue imaging system

US5477858A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Medical Systems,Inc. · US

Inventors

• Paul R. Norris · Issaquah, US
• John Folline · Kent, US
• Richard H. Chesarek · Seattle, US
• Michael J. Veraya · Kent, US
• James Chekerylla · Issaquah, US
• Richard A. Revell · Issaquah, US
• Thomas R. Clary · Issaquah, US
• Richard K. Johnson · Issaquah, US
• Lee D. Dunbar · Bothell, US
• David Roy Axness · Fall City, US
• John C. Lazenby · Bellevue, US
• Donald R. Gardner · Renton, US
• William E. Crone · Fall City, US
• W. Gerrit Barrere · Kirkland, US
• Charles C. Myrick · Renton, US
• Bruce M. Pirie · Renton, US
• Leonard D. Seader · Boise, US
• Louis A. Heaton · Carnation, US
• David M. Polakowski · Renton, US
• Brian J. Sargent · Redmond, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 9, 1991
• Grant date: Dec 26, 1995
• Expiry date: Jul 9, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G16H40/40
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An ultrasound imaging system is provided which produces gray scale images of the anatomy simultaneous with Doppler signal processing so as to provide a single real-time image that shows not only the vascular anatomy and surrounding tissue but also flow events in the vascular compartment. A phased linear array having near-continuous focus over the scanning field provides high resolution and very small Doppler sample volumes. The system tests incoming signals from throughout the scanning field for amplitude, phase and frequency so as to determine B-mode data, motion presence and direction, and echo source velocity.